Darcey bobs up with a new look: Strictly judge ditches her long locks ahead of 45th birthday next month

Thanks to her glitzy style on the Strictly judging panel, Darcey Bussell has become quite the trendsetter among mums.

But her latest fashion statement is decidedly more low key. Ahead of her 45th birthday next month, the former ballerina has ditched her long locks for a darker, more grown-up bob.

She unveiled her new look on BBC1’s The One Show on Thursday. However, the mother of two made sure she still stood out with a vibrant blouse and colourful drop earrings.

Cutting edge: The 44-year-odl Strictly Come Dancing judge has cut off her long locks and now rocks a bob

It was during her appearance on the chat show that the celebrated dancer confessed that the Queen had once told her she wasn’t a huge fan of ballet.

When asked by the show’s host Matt Baker about her experience meeting the Queen, Miss Bussell said: ‘I’ve been very fortunate and danced for her a couple of times. I wouldn’t say ballet is her favourite thing.’

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Questioned over what the Queen had said that to her, she explained how the pair had briefly discussed one of her performances following a show.

She said: ‘It was after the performance thank goodness. But I mean, she said it was an amazing evening and everything, but she said “definitely enough ballet in an evening for a whole year”.

Miss Bussell was been made a CBE in the Queen’s 2006 Birthday Honours list for service to dance. She was also given an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List.

Fame game: Ballerina Darcey has been a Strictly Come Dancing judge since 2012

It was last year that Miss Bussell starred in the Leading Ladies campaign for Marks and Spencer alongside Olympic medal winner Nicola Adams, artist Tracey Emin, novelist Monica Ali and actress Dame Helen Mirren.

The mother of two starred in the high-profile advertising campaign which was pitched as a celebration of successful women, highlighting their desire to remain fashionable as they mature.

Miss Bussell started in ballet at the age of 13. By 17 she had joined the Royal Ballet Company and, by 20, she had become the youngest ever principal dancer the company had seen, receiving her OBE six years later.

She retired from dancing seven years ago, and her final performance in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s The Song Of The Earth at the Royal Opera House ended with an eight-minute standing ovation and a stage knee-deep in flowers.

Miss Bussell returned to the limelight in 2012 when she took over as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from singer Alesha Dixon.

She is married to investment banker Angus Forbes, and the couple have daughters Phoebe, 13 and ten-year-old Zoe. She and her husband of 17 years, banker Angus Forbes, then moved the family to Australia, where Darcey has since written a successful series of children’s books.